OBJECTIVETo study the anti-halitosis effect of sugar-free chewing gum through their influence on odor induced by cysteine.

METHODSTen volunteers were randomly divided into the treatment group and the untreated group; each group consisted of five volunteers. All volunteers consented to participate in a test in which breath odor was induced by cysteine. After the test, the treatment group chewed sugar-free chewing gum for 1 min, whereas the untreated group did not undergo any treatment. The effectiveness was determined by the percent reduction of H2S, CH3SH, and (CH3)2S response after the volunteers chewed gum for 1, 10, and 20 min.

RESULTSAt 1, 10, and 20 min, H2S of the treatment group was reduced by 82.68%, 92.27%, 97.47%, respectively, CH3SH was reduced by 65.49%, 73.79%, and 82.89%, respectively, and (CH3)2S was reduced by 60.45%, 73.82%, and 59.72%, respectively. The differences between the two groups at different times were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChewing gum can effectively inhibit cysteine-induced odor.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of topiramate(TPM) on neuronal apoptosis in rats with acute seizures.Methods We treated the PTZ-induced seizure rats with TPM at 80mg/(kg?d)(high-dose group) and 40mg/(kg?d)(middle-dose group) or physiological saline(control group) for 2 weeks.Neuronal apoptosis in CA_1 and CA_3 regions in hippocampus was identified by terminal deoxynucletidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin in situ nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay.Results Two weeks following seizures,TUNEL-positive neurons were detected in CA_1 and CA_3 regions each group.The numbers of TUNEL-positive neurons in CA_1 and CA_3 of control group were(35.83?)4.58 and(36.83?)3.83,(23.50?)2.81 and(25.50?)3.72 of high-dose TPM group,(31.52?)3.43 and(32.35?)4.69 of middle-dose TPM group.There was a very significant difference between high-dose TPM group and control group(all(P)0.05).Conclusion High dose administration of TPM after experimental status epilepticus may attenuate seizure-induced hippocampal neuronal injury.

Objective To explore the expression of myelin transcription factor 1 (MyT1) and its significance in the brain of epileptic rats induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine. Methods Models of epilepsy of SD rats were established by intraperitoneal injection with lithium chloride and pilocarpine. MyT1-positive cells in the cortex and hippocampal field CA 1 of epileptic rats were determined by immunofluorescence histochemistry.Results Compared with the control group, the number of MyT1-positive cells within the cortex and hippocampal field CA 1 of epileptic rats decreased significantly at 1 day after seizure ( P

Objective To assess the value of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for the treatment of early tumors located at the esophagogastric junction.Methods The clinical data of 57 patients with early tumors located at the esophagogastric junction who received ESD at the Zhongshan Hospital from November 2006to March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss,resection of tumor and perioperative complications were observed.The pre-and postoperative pathological findings were analyzed.Results ESD was successfully completed on the 57 patients.The median operation time was 55 minutes(range,25-95 minutes),and the median volume of blood loss was 74 ml(range,20-300 ml).En-bloc and piecemeal resections were carried out on 39 and 18 patients,respectively.The operative complication rate was 25%(14/57),including 5 patients complicated with perforation and 9 with bleeding.The postoperative complication rate was 16%(9/57),including 6 patients complicated with delayed hemorrhage and 3 with stricture of the esophagogastric junction.Of the 39 patients who were diagnosed as with high-level intraepithelial neoplasia preoperatively.3 were confirmed as with intramucosal carcinoma;of the 18 patients who were diagnosed as with intramucosal carcinoma preoperatively,4 were confirmed ag with adenocarcinoma.All patients were followed up for 9-27 months,no recurrence or metastasis was found.Conclusion ESD is effective and safe for the treatment of early tumors located at the esopha gogastric junction.

Taking global minimum essential requirements(GMER)as standard,school of basic medical science in Wuhan University paid more attention to the cultivation of students' professional skills, innovation ability and communication ability. ‘Response to injury’integrated course was carried out. Based on the immunology,this course involves pathology and pathophysiology and explores the mecha-nism of the diseases' diagnosis and treatment. It took small classes,bilingual education,literature read-ing ,experiments and discussions in various forms . This reform aimed to improve the immunology , pathology and pathophysiology teaching and make our medical education meet the process of globalization.

Objective To establish a predictive model and to find the preoperative predictors for the nature of lesion in the setting of chronic pancreatitis. Methods The 121 patients from 7 tertiary medical centers in Shanghai from July 1998 to April 2007 with focal mass lesions in the setting of chronic pancreatitis were selected as the study population. The final diagnosis had to be confirmed histologically by surgical specimens (n =97) or by follow-up (n = 24). A case control study was conducted; the patients were divided into pancreatic cancer group and chronic pancreatitis group. The age, sex, past history, initial clinical presentations, lab results and imaging exams were collected by reviewing the medical records of these patients. χ~2 test and t test was used for univariate analysis, then the factors with P≤0. 25 were selected for further multivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratio and 95% CI. Results Of 121 , 21 patients had a final diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and other 90 patients had a final diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Abdominal tenderness, direct bilirubin, CA19-9 and CEA were independent predictors of cancer in patients with focal mass lesions. Their odds ratios (95% CI) were 5. 691 (1.468, 22.070) , 1.011 (1.001 , 1.021) , 1.003 (1.001, 1.005) , 101.9 (0.988, 1.051) , respectively. Their P values were 0. 012, 0. 030, 0.003 and 0. 23 , respectively. Conclusions The logistic regression model may accurately predict the nature of lesion in the setting of chronic pancreatitis and may have certain clinical implication.

Objective To investigate the renoprotective effect of transforming growth factor beta activator kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol (OZ) in diabetic db/db mice and the mechanism.Methods Twenty-four male db/db mice were randomly divided into two groups:db/db mice (db/db,n=12) and db/db mice with 5Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment (db/db+OZ,n=12).Another group of wild type mice (n=12) was held as the control group.OZ 2 mg/kg was administrated by intraperitoneal injection every other day.At week 8 and 12 after 5Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment,blood glucose (BG),body weight (BW),kidney weight (KW) and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were evaluated.Kidney pathological lesions were detected by light and electron microscopy.NF-κB p65,monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-ot (TNF-o) were detected by immunohistochemistry.Western blotting was used to detect p-TAK1,TAB1,p-p38MAPK and IL-1β expression,while ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA levels were evaluated by real-time PCR.Results Compared with control group,the levels of BG,BW,KW and UAER were higher (P ＜ 0.01) in db/db mice group,while BW,KW and UAER levels were significantly decreased in db/db + OZ group compared with that in db/db mice group (P ＜ 0.05).In week 8 and 12 db/db mice,glomerular volume and extracellular matrix were increased,while pathological lesions in kidney tissue were positively improved by TAK1 inhibitor.Immunohistochemistry showed that NF-κB p65,MCP-1 and TNF-α expression levels were apparently increased in db/db mice group compared with that in control group (P ＜ 0.05) and were significantly inhibited by TAK1 inhibitor (P ＜ 0.05).Western blotting showed that p-TAK1,TAB1,p-p38MAPK and IL-1β expression levels were higher in db/db mice group than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05) and lower in db/db+ OZ group than that in db/db mice group (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,real-time PCR showed that the expressions of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA were higher in db/db mice group than that in control group and lower in db/db+OZ group than that in db/db mice group (P ＜0.05).Conclusions TAK1 Inhibitor can down-regulate MAPK and NF-κB pathway to restrain the reaction of inflammation and alleviate kidney injury in diabetic db/db mice.

Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) signaling pathway in the activation of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) induced by high glucose.Methods Purity of mouse BMDM was detected by flow cytometry.The mice macrophages cultured in vitro were stimulated by high glucose and treated with TAK1 specific inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol.Cells were divided into normal control group (RPMI 1640),osmolality control group (25 mmol/L mannitol),high glucose group (33 mmol/L D-glucose) and inhibitor group (33 mmol/L D-glucose+300 nmol/L 5Z-7-oxozeaenol).Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were used to detect macrophage subtype.The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA were determined by real time PCR.Expressions of p-TAK1,TAK1 binding protein (TAB1),p-JNK,p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.Results The purity of BMDM was about 99.36％.Compared with normal control group,high glucose group had increased percentage of M1 macrophages,increased expression of MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA (all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,p-TAK1,TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 proteins expression also increased significantly in high glucose group (all P ＜ 0.05).After treatment with inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol,the effects induced by high glucose were inhibited (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions High glucose can induce M1 macrophage activation and expression of inflammatory cytokine of BMDM,which can be inhibited 5Z-7-oxozeaenol through inhibiting TAK1/MAPK and TAK1/NF-κB pathway.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of colorectal large laterally spreading tumor. Methods ESD was applied to treat 150 cases of colorectal LST with diameter larger than 4 cm. The morphological features of LST, distribution, the clinicopathological data and the en-bloc resection rate, complete resection rate, complications were retrospectively evaluated. Results There were 87 patients with LST-granular lesions and 63 patients with LST-nongranular lesions. Colorectal LST mainly distributed in the rectum for 109 cases (72.7%), sigmoid colon for 13 cases (8.7%), descending colon for 5 cases (3.3%), transverse colon for 8 cases (5.3%), ascending colon for 13 cases (8.7%), cecum for 2 cases (1.3%). There were 23 patients with low-grade neoplasia, 104 patients with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 7 with intramucosal carcinoma and 16 with submucosal carcinoma. The en-bloc resection rate and complete resection rate were 92.7% (139/150) and 89.3%(134/150). Adverse events were intra-operative bleeding in 12 patients (8.0%), postoperative bleeding in 2 patients (1.3%), perforation in 3 patients (2.0%), postoperative stenosis in 3 patients (2.0%). Conclusion Colorectal large LST-NG has higher potential for malignancy. ESD is a safe and effective method to provide en-bloc and complete resection of colorectal large LST.

Aim We used bone marrow-derived macro-phages ( BMMs ) , to explore the mechanism of macro-phage activation and the effect of TGF-β activated ki-nase-1 ( TAK1 ) inhibitor 5 Z-7-oxozeaenol on it under AGEs conditions. Methods The BMMs were obtained from C57 mice, and purity of BMMs was detected by flow cytometry. Cell viability was tested after treatment with different concentrations of TAK1 inhibitors. Laser confocal microscopy was used to detect macrophage M1 subtype . Flow cytometry was used to analyse the macro-phage activated by AGEs. TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of TAK1 signal pathway protein. Results AGEs stimulation could in-crese the activity of M1 macrophages,and 5Z-7-oxoze-aenol could inhibit the differentiation of BMMs. Com-pared with control group, AGEs increased the expres-sion of MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA(P<0. 01). p-TAK1, TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38MAPK and NF-κBp65 proteins ex-pression also increased significantly ( P <0. 05 ) . After treatment with inhibitor, transcription levels of MCP-1 and TNF-α decreased significantly ( P < 0. 05 , P <0. 01 ) . 5 Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment downregulated the expression of p-TAK1,TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38MAPK and
NF-κBp65 proteins ( P <0. 05 ) . Conclusions AGEs can induce BMMs to M1 phenotypic polarization. 5Z-7-oxozeaenol reduces the expression of inflammatory cyto-kine via inhibiting TAK1/MAPKs, MAPKs/NF-κB pathways.